<p>Is the only way the colleges actually know if you are national merit semifinalist when they are looking at your application whether or not you put it on your awards list?</p>
<p>Since the the list of scholastic distinctions in the application is limited to a small amount(in this case specifically for MIT), I was wondering how effective putting it on that list would be, whereas I could have put another award that, although maybe not so nationally 'prestigous', defines me more personally. </p>
<p>What are your thought on the effectiveness of presenting national merit semifinalist on my limited awards list in place of something that defines me more personally for MIT? For any school? Or should I present it elsewhere (like in a resume, but not on the awards list in the application?)?</p>